| Author |
Message |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 3:05 pm: | |
After reading the other thread about a strange Lonestar (Rossie's) LE420 with f-holes, i thought you might like to see what i recently picked up. It seems it takes the "unknown" a step further due to the combination of black/humbucker/f-holes. It's not in mint condition (it's been played, can see that) but it still looks and sounds great. Not quite sure what bits are original and what has been added. Any ideas? Acetan? The two switches are really interesting... Enough chatter, here some pics...
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Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 - 4:43 pm: | |
What do the two mini switches do? It looks like someone added a humbucker to the f-hole LE420 in the LE520 fashion. Do the two knobs still control volume and tone? The LE520's got two seperate volume pots to blend the two pickups plus a common tone pot.
Ace |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 3:11 am: | |
Hi Ace,
Glad you answered, i've noticed you're a bit of a Lonestar guru round here 
I can't quite figure the two switches out. They are slightly different, which suggests that at least one has been customized. The knobs appear to act differently depending on what position the switches are in. I'm not a huge expert when it comes to pickups and e-guitars, i'll admit. What i did notice about the tone knob was that turning it to the right does appear to boost the treble, but turning it down seems to cut off the sound altogether.... very strange. This guitar is so interesting... |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 12:09 pm: | |
I like Lonestars because they are so overlooked but I'm definitely no guru. The original tone knob has a detent in the middle where signal goes straight through and you can roll off either treble or bass from that point. Yours is probably modified to accommodate the added pickup.
These are very interesting guitars. My LE420 needed some work a while back and after fixing it, my luthier wouldn't give it back to me and made me sell it to him. This from a life long Gibson employee who retired when the factory went south. Quite a change in attitude I'd say.
Ace |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 1:21 pm: | |
Made you sell it to him? hah hah
May i ask how much you let it go for? |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 18, 2005 - 5:05 pm: | |
Just sent money to Rossie for his red LE420. Should be here in a couple of weeks. Here's that "New-guitar-in-transit" HIGH again.
Ace |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 3:57 am: | |
So he let her go then? ;)
As you are well aware, you have a beauty on its way. |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 12:23 pm: | |
Seems like people are adding pickups to these Lonestars here also. The first picture is my LE520 in original condition and the second one has a second IBZ pickup added to the bridge position.
Ace
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Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 2:02 pm: | |
I'm quite curious to find out whether the pickup on mine came out of factory like that (even if it was a special model) or whether it was added later. Reckon taking it apart will help me any further? |
Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2005 - 2:54 pm: | |
During that period of time, Ibanez pickup rings had two screws on the left side and that leads me to think that yours probably was an add on at a later date.
Ace |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2005 - 5:31 am: | |
Thats interesting Ace. The pickup on mine seems to be a puzzle in itself, there are so many little screw holes in it (i have no idea why). I'll try take a close-up, thatll probably confirm what you say. Is there also a possibility that the original humbucker broke and got replaced? Wondering if the hole will give any clues.... |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 3:24 pm: | |
I just took off the strings to have a look at the humbucker. Pics soon to follow. It is a Seymour Duncan 59NJ pickup, which if my limited knowledge is correct, isnt such a bad pickup at all, right?
Another interesting thing Ace... maybe you can help (or not).... there are little circular recesses in the wood to allow for the two long prongs of the pickup...reckon these were predrilled on all the LE range? They disappear under the body, so i dont think they could have been drilled out afterwards. Still havent worked out the electrics setup LOL... maybe i should take a picture of that too??? |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 3:35 pm: | |
And apparently (internet is a wonderful thing...) the J on the end means "it was wound by Maricela Juarez" from the Seymour custom shop. Have no idea who she is, what that means, but it sounds cool!!!  |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Friday, September 09, 2005 - 4:34 pm: | |
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Acetan
Username: Acetan
Registered: 09-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 - 6:24 pm: | |
Just re-discovered this thread. The two little circular recesses are very interesting indeed. The pickup ring appears to be non-Ibanez though.
Ace |
Sibly
Username: Sibly
Registered: 05-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 8:27 am: | |
Hi Ace,
So all in all just adds to the curiosity of this guitar then!!? Still wonder if all the LE shaped bodies had these recesses irrespective of whether they had humbuckers or not. But then to cut that pickup hole out later would require some very precise accuracy to get those recesses fall in the right place.... |